A Conversation with Ziwe
Heralded as a leader in the renaissance of late-night, comedian, author, and TV host ZIWE brings her signature candor, wit, and commentary to this compelling talk. Ziwe shares her journey to becoming a late-night TV writer by 25, to hosting her own hit show, to writing her first book in this memorable and hilarious event.
Author Talk: ‘Black Friend’ with Ziwe
Comedian, writer, and actress ZIWE’s Black Friend: Essays raises difficult questions for comedic relief. Throughout Black Friend, Ziwe combines pop-culture commentary and personal stories to grapple with her own (mis)understanding of identity in a striking act of vulnerability. In her writing and in star-powered events, Ziwe helps audiences turn a critical eye to the status quo while keeping them laughing.
Ziwe in the News
Iconic Hollywood star ZIWE has made a splash with her eponymous late-night show and national bestseller, Black Friend: Essays. Here are her latest interviews:
10.30.23 Ziwe is the Protagonist of Her Own Story | Kirkus Review
10.27.23 At 14, Ziwe Related to Steve Harvey for this Crushing Reason | Bustle
10.25.23 Ziwe Talks 'Black Friend,' Using Humor to Mask Vulnerability | The Associated Press
10.23.23 Ziwe, the Mirror has Two Faces | Grazia
10.23.23 With 'Black Friend: Essays,' Ziwe is Finally the Iconic Guest | Vanity Fair
10.23.23 Ziwe is More than the 'Black Friend' | The Washington Post
10.18.23 Ziwe Explores the Understanding Of Identity In ‘A Black Friend: Essays’ | Essence
Internet star, comedian, and late-night revivalist Ziwe challenges audiences to think about the most complex issues of today while keeping them laughing.
Comedian, writer, and actress ZIWE is changing the way we watch TV. As one of TIME’s 100 Next Gen Leaders, her refreshing approach to broadcast journalism represents the resurgence of late-night. Deadline described Ziwe as “the latest figure to join the late-night ‘renaissance.’” She grew up working on some of the biggest late-night shows, with tenures at Comedy Central, The Daily Show, and The Colbert Report. Ziwe first garnered attention for her own work during the early months of the pandemic with her provocative and hilarious interviews on her Instagram Live & YouTube talk series, Baited.
Internet star Ziwe’s viral success landed her a book deal: Black Friend: Essays, turns her incisive perspective on both herself and culture at large. Her A24-produced, Showtime original late-night comedy show, Ziwe, cemented her iconic comedic voice into the cultural zeitgeist. Her late-night work is more than funny; it merges levity with her incisive perspective as a cultural critic and political satirist. Through raw, vulnerable interactions with major figures in entertainment and culture such as Fran Leibowitz, Bowen Yang, Nicole Beyer, Chet Hanks, and Drew Barrymore, Ziwe has created art on the cutting edge of comedy culture. PBS’s News Hour described her work as “Skits with an unflinching eye and songs you won't soon forget.”
Ziwe’s ability to discuss the most complex issues of our day with humor and truth ensures a memorable event that will resonate with audiences of all kinds.
Comedian, writer, and actress Ziwe’s debut book ‘Black Friend: Essays’ turn a critical yet humorous eye to the status quo through with her signature candor, wit, and salient commentary.
Internet star, late night host, comedian, and author ZIWE's debut book Black Friend: Essays turns her incisive perspective on both herself and culture at large. Ziwe made a name for herself by asking guests like Alyssa Milano, Fran Lebowitz, and Chet Hanks direct questions with her provocative and hilarious interviews on her Instagram Live & YouTube talk series, Baited. Her A24-produced, Showtime original late-night comedy show, Ziwe, cemented her iconic comedic voice into the cultural zeitgeist. As one of TIME’s 100 Next Gen Leaders, her refreshing approach to broadcast journalism represents the resurgence of late-night. Ziwe's work is more than funny; it merges levity with her incisive perspective as a cultural critic and political satirist.
Throughout Black Friend, Ziwe combines pop-culture commentary and personal stories, which grapple with her own (mis)understanding of identity. From a hilarious case of mistaken identity via a jumbotron to a terrifying fight-or-flight encounter in the woods, Ziwe raises difficult questions for comedic relief. Through her writing and her raw, vulnerable interactions with major figures in entertainment and culture, Ziwe has created art on the cutting edge of comedy culture.
In her writing and in star-powered events, Ziwe helps audiences turn a critical eye to the status quo while keeping them laughing.
Ziwe is a talented comedian, writer, and actress, who has taken the Internet by storm and captured audiences nationwide with her signature candor, wit, and salient commentary on race and politics in America.
Ziwe hosted the A24 produced late-night variety sketch show, Ziwe. Season 1 boasted guests including Fran Leibowitz, Gloria Steinem, and Stacey Abrams. As one of TIME’s 100 Next Gen Leaders, her refreshing approach to broadcast journalism represents the renaissance of late-night. Season 2 of the series debuted April 29, 2022, with guests such as Chet Hanks and Emily Ratajkowski. Season 2B of the series premiered on November 20th 2022 with iconic guests including Julia Fox, Drew Barrymore, and Michael Che.
Hailed as the multi-hyphenate comedic voice to emerge from social media, Ziwe garnered attention during the early months of the pandemic with her provocative and hilarious interviews on her Instagram Live & YouTube talk series, Baited. The show featured interviews full of hard truths with the likes of Caroline Calloway, Alison Roman, Rose McGowan, and Jeremy O. Harris.
In 2021, Ziwe released an album of songs from her Showtime show titled, Ziwe: A Famously Iconic Soundtrack, which is available on Apple Music & Spotify, and she plans to release more music in the coming months. Ziwe is the author of a much-anticipated book of essays, Black Friend.
Ziwe has an impressive career history in the television and comedy fields; she was recently featured on Succession and The Great North, previously a Story Editor on Apple TV+’s Dickinson. She wrote on Showtime’s Desus & Mero, The Onion, and BET’s The Rundown with Robin Thede. Ziwe has built a fanbase in the podcast space as well, as a co-host of Crooked Media’s Hysteria. Ziwe also hosts the hit live event, “Pop Show,” where she performs original pop songs and consistently sells out venues including Brooklyn’s Bell House, the Music Hall of Williamsburg and more.
Ziwe is based in New York City. She began her career as an intern at Comedy Central and quickly rose up the ranks, becoming a late-night TV writer at just 25-years-old.
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